USA > Virginia > Westmoreland County > Westmoreland County > Westmoreland County, Virginia : parts I and II : a short chapter and bright day in its history > Part 1
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A 18613.10
Darbard College Library
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FROM THE BRIGHT LEGACY
One half the income from this Legacy, which was re- ceived in 1880 under the will of JONATHAN BROWN BRIGHT of Waltham, Massachusetts, is to be expended for books for the College Library. The other half of the income is devoted to scholarships in Harvard University for the benefit of descendants of
HENRY BRIGHT, JR.,
who died at Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1686. In the absence of such descendants, other persons are eligible to the scholarships. The will requires that this announce- ment shall be made in every book added to the Library under its provisions.
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INTRODUCTION.
"The history of a people is, often, best preserved by their laws and civic institutions; and nothing adds more to the true glory of a nation than narratives of its wise and impartial administration of justice. The fame of the Areopagus survived the military glory of Athens; and while the battle of Marathon, the passage of the Hellespont and the victory of Salamis were treated as fables at Rome,* the memory of the Grecian Laws still lived in the twelve tables of the Capital of the Universe."t-Preface to fourth volume Call's (Va.) Reports.
* Liv. lib. 28, 43; Juv. sat. XI., 174 etc.
¡ Adams's Antiq: 160: 5 Gibb. Rom. Emp. 308.
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PART I.
--
From painting by Col. Trumbull.
WASHINGTON
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١
Westmoreland County, Virginia.
I. Westmoreland Called "The Athens of Virginia."
A PLEASANT AND NOTED DAY AT MONTROSS, THE COUNTY SEAT. BRILLIANT ADDRESSES BY LAWRENCE WASHINGTON, REV. RANDOLPH HARRISON MCKIM, D. D., LL.D., AND REV. GEORGE WM. BEALE, D. D.
Westmoreland county, Virginia, was taken from the older colony of Northumberland by an Act of the "Grand Assembly," July, 1653.
Westmoreland has been called "The Athens of Virginia." Some of the most renowned men of this country have been born within her borders. Among these may be mentioned Washington, Richard Henry Lee, and his three brothers-Thomas, Francis and Arthur : General Henry Lee, Monroe, and the late Bushrod Washington.
President Monroe was born at the head of Monroe's Creek. Chantilly, situated upon the Potomac, now in ruins, was once the residence of Richard Henry Lee. Upon the same stream, a few miles up, is Stratford, the family seat of the Lees for many gene- rations. The birthplace of Washington was destroyed previous to the Revolution. It stood about half a mile from the junction of Pope's Creek with the Potomac .- Howe's History of Virginia, page 507.
. The fac simile in the engraving of the record of the birth of Washington is from the family record in the Bible which belonged to his mother. The original entry is supposed to have been made by her. This old family Bible is in the possession of George W. Bassett, Esq., of Farmington, Hanover county, who married a grandniece of Washington. It is in the quarto form, much dilapi- dated by age, and with the title page missing. It is covered by the striped Virginia cloth, anciently much used. The portrait of Wash- ington, which we give, is engraved from the original painting by his aid, Colonel John Trumbull. When Lafayette was on his visit to this country he pronounced it the best likeness of Washington he had seen. It was taken at the time of life when they were both together in the army of the Revolution .- Idem, page 508.
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
We clip from the Northern Neck News, Warsaw, Va., Friday, May 20, 1910, the following extract from its correspondent :
BIG DAY AT MONTROSS.
Brilliant Speakers and Distinguished Assemblage.
Tuesday, May 3rd, at 1 P. M., was the occasion at Montross of presenting and accepting the portraits, tablets and statues so gen- erously given to Westmoreland county, and in public recognition of the gifts.
After a delightful luncheon by the ladies of Westmoreland, Rev. Dr. R. H. McKim, of Washington, D. C .; Rev. Dr. G. W. Beale, of Westmoreland; Lawrence Washington, Library of Con- gress ; Hon. William Mayo, and Hon. C. Conway Baker delivered patriotic and striking addresses.
They were met by the honorable Board of Supervisors, the Washington and Lee Chapter of the United Daughters of the Con- federacy, the members of the Westmoreland Camp Confederate Veterans, the patriotic order of Sons of America, the officers, teachers and scholars of public and private schools, and patriotic citizens generally. The occasion was a pleasant one, and full of intense historical interest to Westmoreland people. The flower and chivalry of the county assembled there. The brave and patriotic manhood and the presence and grace of cultured and lovely woman- hood made it brilliant. All felt the silent and potent influence of the Washington and Lee Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (Mrs. George W. Murphy, president, and Mrs. B. B. Atwill, secretary), as they came in the court room in a body. They gave éclat and delight to the pageantry and brilliancy of the occa- sion.
Mrs. Charles W. Harris presided at the organ and led the rendi- tion of Southern songs and national anthems and hymns. She is an accomplished scholar of the Peabody Institute, Baltimore. Mrs. Lee Crutchfield and Misses Atwill assisted, and adding their lovely voices to the lovely voice of Mrs. Harris, made the most delightful and thrilling music. We owe much to these ladies.
Hon. William Mayo, president of the Board of Supervisors, called the meeting to order and presided. Mr. Mayo is proud of the fame of Virginia and Westmoreland. Their history is glorious to him. He does not, however, supinely and repiningly dream of the past, but as a citizen and president of the Board is a man of genuine progress and believes in present and future achievement for the betterment of his people and locality, and is doing as much
George Washington, Son So Augustine & Mary his Wife was Born, y 11 Day of February 1731/ about 10 in the Morning & was Baptin the 3."if april 10 following An Beverley Whiting & lap! Christopher Brooks Godfathers and M. Mildred Gregory Cosmo them
Fac-simile of the entry of the birth of Washington in the Bible of his mother.
the wrote on a certain 25 . " of July when you ought to have been at Church, Praying as becomes every good Christian man of Fire " no afecte & Ober 28th august 1762 grafhington
Fac-simile of the writing of Washington.
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
for good roads and development along industrial, educational and agricultural lines as any man in the State, and has the confidence and esteem of all his people. He is an easy, forceful, fluent speaker.
The Judge of the Court made the following report :
I have the honor to report and turn over to you-
1. General George Washington, hero of Yorktown, "Father of his Country," of whom Governor Henry Lee (Light Horse Harry), appointed by Congress to pronounce the eulogy on his death, said : "First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his country- men"; first President of the United States; painted after Harding, and donated and painted by (Mrs. John S. Bonebrake) Miss M. B. Snyder.
2. James Monroe, fifth President of the United States, author of the great Monroe Doctrine, the foundation of our foreign policy ; painted by Willis Pepoon, Richmond, Va., after Vanderlyn-color- ing after Stuart-and donated by Mr. P. H. Mayo, Richmond, Va.
3. William Pitt, Lord Chatham, donated in 1768 by Edmond Jennings, Esq., of London, England, to the gentlemen of the county of Westmoreland; figure full length, addressing the British Parlia- ment. This historic painting once embellished the hall of the House of Delegates, Richmond, Va. (See Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia, 1901-1902, page 676.)
4. General R. E. Lee, of Stratford, the "brightest star in the galaxy of Anglo-Saxon greatness," in full uniform, figure full length ; painted by E. F. Andrews, and donated by Colonel R. E. Lee, Jr., Fairfax county, his grandson.
5. Judge Bushrod Washington, favorite nephew of General Washington, devisee of Mount Vernon, his books and library; As- sociate Justice Supreme Court of the United States; painted by Estella Gross, Washington, D. C., after Harding, and donated by the Mount Vernon Washingtons through Major R. W. Hunter, sec- retary of Confederate Records, who married Miss Lila Washington.
6. General Thomas Stuart Garnett (of Chancellorsville fame), Confederate States Army ; painted and donated by Mrs. Roberta Garnett Morris, Fredericksburg, Va., his sister.
7. Colonel Henry T. Garnett; painted and donated by Mrs. Roberta Garnett Morris, Fredericksburg, Va., his daughter.
8. General R. L. T. Beale, the gallant and dashing Brigadier of Cavalry, Confederate States Army, and member of United States
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Congress before and after the War Between the States; donated by his family.
9. Judge Richard Parker, Supreme Court of Appeals of Vir- ginia ; donated by James R. Keene, New York; painted by Charles S. Forbes, Boston, now Paris, France.
10. Judge John Critcher, Colonel, Confederate States Army, member of Congress and Circuit Judge; painted by Miss Cathe- rine Carter Critcher, Paris School of Arts, and donated by Mrs. Nannie C. Gatewood, Washington, D. C., and herself.
11. Governor Henry (Light Horse Harry) Lee, Governor of Virginia; General United States Army, and member of Congress (eulogist on the death of Washington), and "the Rupert of the Revolution," father of General R. E. Lee; painted by B. West Clinedinst, Pawling, Duchess county, New York, after Stuart, and donated by General G. W. Custis Lee, his grandson.
12. Francis Lightfoot Lee of Stratford, member of Congress and signer of Declaration of Independence; painted by Willis Pe poon, Richmond, Va., after Peale, and donated by Dr. Richard H. Stuart, of Stratford ..
13. Richard Henry Lee of Chantilly (born at Stratford), mem ber of the first Congress at Philadelphia, September 5, 1774, "the Cicero of the House"; author and mover of the famous "Westmore- land Resolutions" at Leedstown, Va., February 27, 1766 (Judge Richard Parker presiding), passed by the patriots of Westmoreland protesting against the Stamp Act, and signer of the Declaration of Independence; author of "The Committee of Correspondence," from which sprung the Union of the Colonies; and mover, on the 7th day of June, 1776, in the Continental Congress, "that these united Colonies are and ought to be free and independent States"; painted by Mrs. Montague (nee Taliaferro), after Peale, and donated by Joseph Bryan, Richmond, Va.
14. William Lee, of Stratford, Lord Mayor of London, Eng- land, and United States Commissioner to the Court of Berlin, and United States representative to Holland; painted by Charles S. Forbes, Boston, now Paris, France; donated by James R. Keene, New York.
15. Arthur Lee, of Stratford, member of Congress, United States Minister to the Court of Versailles; the scholar, the writer, the philosopher, and the negotiator of the treaty of commerce and alliance with the French Court; painted by 'Harreotte Lee Monta- gue (neé Taliaferro), Richmond, Va .; donated by William H. Lee,
COURT HOUSE AT MONTROSS, VA.
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
president of the Merchants'-Laclede National Bank, St. Louis, Mo .; Blair Lee and John F. Lee, his brother.
16. Mural tablet (polished Italian marble, letters black and gold) to Taliaferro Hunter, Superintendent of Schools of West- moreland county, and educator; donated by the citizens of West- moreland county through Miss Lizzie Baker.
17. Mural tablet, polished Italian marble, letters black and gold, richly engraved by Gaddess Brothers Company, Baltimore, Md., to Joseph Christopher Wheelwright and Samuel Francis At- will, Virginia Military Institute cadet heroes who fell in the battle of New Market in 1864; donated by J. H. Wheelwright, vice-presi- dent of the Consolidation Company, Continental Trust Building, Baltimore, Md.
18. Replica of the Houdon statue of Washington in the Capitol at Richmond, Va., and fluted pedestal, manufactured by P. P. Cap- roni & Bro., Boston, Mass .; donated by Lloyd Washington, 1842 Indiana avenue, Chicago, Ill.
19. American Eagle, handsomely hand carved in wood, gilded with fine gold, 31/2 to 4 feet from tip to tip; donated by the Mary- land, Delaware and Virginia Railway Company, Pier Light street, Baltimore, Md.
"Poor is the country that boasts no heroes, but beggared is that people who, having them, forgets."
Respectfully reported.
Mr. Mayo then introduced Lawrence Washington, Library of Congress, and late of Mt. Vernon. Mr. Mayo was very happy in presenting his old schoolmate to present Justice Bushrod Washing- ton's portrait, Supreme Court United States. Mr. Lawrence Wash- ington is a very cultured and refined looking gentleman-cleanly shaved, trim in figure and dress, strong, handsome face and eyes. His address was a finished one and very strong and eloquent. Judge Washington was a very much more distinguished man in his day than is now generally apprehended, and this address, which will be published, will be an interesting chapter in the literature of the history of the country. It was a matter of regret that his son, Richard B. Washington, a rising and distinguished young attorney of Alexandria, with him, and who has just returned from a two years' service at Vice-Consul to Planca in Germany, had to leave for the steamer before he could be pressed into service for the oc- casion.
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Hon. C. Conway Baker then introduced Rev. Dr. Randolph Har- rison McKim, Church of the Epiphany, Washington, D. C., to pre- sent the entire gallery. Mr. Baker, at all times fluent and pleasing, never made a happier or more delightful speech in his life. It was generally conceded that it was a gem in delivery and oratory, and adds another laurel to his fame and delight to his friends.
Dr. McKim's address was a masterpiece. It was one of the grandest tributes to Westmoreland ever delivered, and one of the brightest chapters in her glorious history. The speech of Lord Brougham on Washington was adopted in the history of Westmore- land by the historian Howe in his "History of Virginia." This tribute of Dr. McKim to Westmoreland's Washington and other heroes may well be treasured like Lord Brougham's in its history. Dr. McKim is a brilliant and eloquent speaker. A man of the most imposing and distinguished presence, charming personality, voice clear, resonant, attractive in volume and tone, he simply thrilled us as he rang out. We feel prouder than ever of Westmore- land.
Mr. Mayo then, in a happy manner, presented Dr. Beale to ac- cept. Dr. Beale, a son of Westmoreland, truly exalted his county and people, their achievements and memories. He urged them to keep rekindled the fires of patriotism on the altars of their country. He was truly eloquent, and his appeals from a fine exordium to per- oration touched us and won us. As a brilliant historian, scholar and learned divine, we always wish to hear from him.
I am told that the Board of Supervisors will endeavor to print all these addresses in pamphlet form for distribution.
As the choir were delightfully rendering "Auld Lang Syne," the driver hurried Dr. McKim to start on his pilgrimage to Wake- field and Stratford, the birthplaces of the immortal Washington and Lee. At Wakefield, Mrs. Wilson and Miss Etta were very polite and cordial, and at Stratford De. and Mrs. Stuart were also very .polite and cordial. After visiting these consecrated shrines he reached Leedstown a little after 8 P. M., and after a nice supper at Mr. Baxter's and cordial entertainment as a guest, took the steamer. This ended his visit to the Northern Neck, where this brilliant man had flashed through its classic section like a brilliant meteor in the clear heavens, leaving behind with those people the most delightful memories of himself. The trip was a strenuous one for a man seeking to recruit himself from recent illness. Dur- ing the few days of his visit he preached two beautiful sermons- one at St. John's, Warsaw, the other at St. John's Tappahannock. He delivered two brilliant addresses-one at Warsaw, the other at Montross.
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
While resting on the steamer that night in the little quiet town of Leedstown, it was recalled that there, in February, 1766, after Richard Henry Lee had organized the "Westmoreland Association" of patriots, that he wrote there (the famous Westmoreland resolu- tions) a direct protest against the Stamp Act, Judge Richard Parker presiding over the meeting. Although North Carolina claims the glory to have shed the first blood for Colonial liberty at Alamance in 1771, and boasts of the Mecklenburg resolutions (May 20, 1775) which ante-date the Declaration of Independence, yet it must be remembered to the glory of old Westmoreland that more than nine years before the Mecklenburg resolutions, and more than ten years before the Declaration of Independence, and one hundred years after Nathaniel Bacon, these patriots of old West- moreland at Leedstown were the first to rekindle the latent and hidden fires of the American Revolution through Richard Henry Lee-a great historical fact which should never be forgotten by Virginians.
Richard Henry Lee, chairman of the Committee of Congress to report on his motion in Congress "That the United Colonies are and ought to be free and independent States," etc., on June 10th was called from Philadelphia home to see his ill wife. This acci- dental sickness of his wife deprived him of the signal honor of being the author as well as mover of the Declaration of Independ- ence, thus by his conduct demonstrating to the world that loyalty and devotion to wife, family and home are dearer and sweeter than earthly honors-a virtue the highest, sublimest and supremest known to mankind .- Correspondent Northern Neck News.
20. Since the above report of the contributions to the gallery of the court room, a costly and beautiful tablet in letters of black and gold has been given by Mrs. Emily Steelman Fisher, a daugh- ter of the American Revolution, General Lafayette Chapter, At- lantic City, N. J. The tablet gives the full text of "Westmoreland Articles" offered by Richard Henry Lee at Leedstown, Va., and passed by the patriots of Westmoreland on 27th of February, 1766. "A signal gun of warning and preparation, whose clear, reverber- ating echoes heralded the Declaration of Independence, and was a prelude to all the patriotic guns from Lexington to Yorktown."
21. Another beautiful tablet of letters black and gold giving the text of the Resolutions of the Westmoreland patriots and the Westmoreland Committee of Safety passed 1774 and 1775, when the Boston harbor in our sister colony of Massachusetts Bay was locked up and Lord Dunmore seized the powder in the magazine in Williamsburg, has been given by Dr. Algernon S. Garnett, of
.
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Hot Springs, Arkansas, a son of Westmoreland and brother of General Thomas S. Garnett, a dashing officer killed at Chancellors- ville.
These two tablets were unveiled at Montross May 9, 1911.
22. Replica of the statue of Chief Justice Marshall from the original in marble in the Boston Athenaeum; donated by Bush Wilkins, Esq. Virginia gave Washington, who with the sword led the armies of the Revolution, and Marshall with the pen expounded the Constitution of this great Republic. Colonel Thomas Marshall, the father of the Chief Justice, was born in Westmoreland, and the historic county is, therefore, the grandmother of John Marshall.
23. Statue of R. E. Lee (P. P. Caproni & Bro., sculptors, Bos- ton, Mass.,), donated by Bushrod Washington Pomeroy, Esq.
"An angel's heart, an angel's mouth, Not Homer's could alone for me Hymn well the great Confederate South, Virginia first, and Lee."
HISTORICAL EVENTS COMMEMORATED BY TABLETS UNVEILED AT MONTROSS.
Lieutenant-Governor Ellyson Presides Over Interesting Exercises.
MONTROSS, VA., May 9, 1911.
Two tablets, commemorating historical events, were dedicated here to-day with interesting exercises.
The exercises began in the early afternoon when William Mayo, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, called the meeting to order and designated J. Taylor Ellyson, Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia, to preside.
Mr. Ellyson, accompanied by his wife, who is the president of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, ar- rived here early this morning on the Commodore Maury, flagship of the Virginia oyster navy. Mr. Ellyson expressed his pleasure at being present and being permitted to preside over the meeting, a duty which he performed with grace and dignity.
T. R. B. Wright, judge of the judicial circuit, then presented the tablets to the county of Westmoreland in a ringing speech, which created great enthusiasm.
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA
As the portraits were unveiled the audience arose and sang "America."
Historical addresses were delivered by Frank P. Brent and. Walter E. Hathaway, of Lancaster county, which brought the exer- cises to a close.
Judge Wright, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Ellyson and Mrs. Wright, visited Stratford, the birthplace of the Lees, and other historical places in the vicinity this afternoon.
On one of the tablets is the text of the famous "Westmoreland Resolutions," offered by Richard Henry Lee, and passed by the patriots of that day at Leedstown, February 27, 1766, thus outdat- ing by nine years the Mecklenburg, N. C., resolutions, and by ten years the Declaration of Independence.
The other tablet bears the resolutions of Richard Henry Lee, passed at the Westmoreland county court house June 22, 1774, ex- pressing sympathy with and tendering aid to Boston because of the locking up of that harbor. Also on this tablet appear the resolu- tions of the Westmoreland County Committee of Safety, passed May 23, 1744, denouncing Lord Dunmore, the Governor, for seizing the powder in the magazine of Williamsburg, Va .- The Times- Dispatch, Richmond, Va.
HONOR COLONIAL HEROES.
TABLETS UNVEILED IN MEMORY OF WESTMORELAND PATRIOTS. GIFT TO VIRGINIA COUNTY.
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